Colorado Rockies podcast: The Kyle Freeland-Ryan Rolison connection

In this episode of the Rox Pile Rockies Report, we take a dive into the deepening working relationship and friendship between Colorado Rockies pitchers Kyle Freeland and Ryan Rolison.

In this podcast, we not only discuss pitching, but prospects for the Colorado Rockies in 2021.

The left-handed duo of Freeland and Rolison pitched the first six innings of Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale. Freeland started the game and hurled four scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Rolison came on in relief and posted two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out three. Neither issued a walk.

It was the first time the pair had been on the mound in a consecutive sequence. The results were not only good for the Rockies, but also gave Rolison, ranked as Colorado’s second-highest prospect heading into the 2021 campaign, a chance to watch Freeland once again work in a game situation.

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In comments after the game, Rolison said that not only do he and Freeland share being left-handed on the mound, but they also share much of the same attitude on the mound along with some other traits that they have discovered while working together in throwing drills and warm-up exercises.

Those opportunities to work together are moments that Freeland welcomes.

"“My relationship with him is that I’m basically an open book for him,” Freeland told Rox Pile and other media members after his Saturday outing. “I want to try and teach him as much as possible. Being a fellow lefty and a young guy, he’s coming to me with a lot of questions, so if I see something with one of his pitches or in his throwing program, whatever it is, I’m open to talking to him and helping him out if he wants help with anything.”"

In the podcast, we also dive into some other topics, including what a successful 2021 would look like for the Rockies. That includes development of some of their younger players, including Brendan Rodgers, who suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday and could miss some time but still has big plans for 2021.

You can hear the latest episode of the podcast below.

Spring training rolls on on Sunday with the Rockies visiting the Texas Rangers for a 2:05 p.m. (MT) first pitch.